Cornelius c



(No Model.)

0. 0. HASTINGS. FOLDING TABLE.

Patented Dec. 12, 1893.

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UNITED STATES CORNELIUS PATENT OFFICE...

THE MILTON BRADLEY COMPANY, OF SAMEPLAOE.

FOLDING TABLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 510,858, dated December 12, 1893.

Application filed September 4, 1893. Serial No. 484,739. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CORNELIUS O. HASTINGS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Springfield, in the county of Harnpden and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Kindergarten- 'tl:ables, of which the following is a specificaion.

This invention relates to improvements in To folding tables, more especially designed for use in kindergarten schools wherein are held exercises calling for the collapsing of the tables for securing the desired space.

The improvements pertain to the construction of the jointed brackets for supporting the table top rigidly from or by the hinge-connected legs, and permitting, at pleasure, the easy folding of the parts, reference being had to durability and to the compact disposition 2c of the brackets within the angle between the top and legs, whereby the brackets form no impediment to the knees of children.

Other features of advantageous construction will be pointed out in the following de- 2 5 scription and set forth in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section through one end portion of the top and the hinged supporting leg thereat, this View also showing the jointed bracket in side elevation. Fig. 2 is a sectional view similar to Fig. l,but showing the leg as folded under the table-top and the correspondingly changed disposition of the parts of the bracket. Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken at right angles to Fig. 1. In the drawings, A represents the top of the table and B one of the legs. The top has on its under side at a suitable distance from its end the transverse cleat, a, to the inner edge or side of which the leg is hinge-connected, as seen at b, so as to be swung or folded inwardly against the under side of the top.

0 represents the bracket which consists of 5 a casting, d, secured to the under side of the top, the casting, f, secured to the face of the leg and the curved brace-arm, g, which is pivotally connected to the ear pieces, f, of casting, f, and. has in substance a sliding pin and slot engagement with the said casting, d. The slot, d, for the aforesaid connection,

which is formed in the depending web or flange, d of the casting, d, is generated in an are which is only approximately concentr c with the pivotal point, f when the top 1s properly at right angles to the leg. This are slot, which is therefore slightly eccentric t0 the said pivot, causes, when the parts are dis 3, tended and the stud of the brace link is atthe forward end of the slot, necessarily, a slight 6o bind or cam action of the stud relative to the edges of the slot whereby the stud may not too readily and accidentally be slid toward the hinge to cause, unduly, the collapse of the bracket. It will be perceived, Figs. 1 and 2, that toward the hinge the slot is widened as at d whereby there is the let off so that when the brace-arm with its stud has been properly swung or forced by the intelligent and purposed application of force, part way to the hinge, against the aforementioned cam action, the stud, on coming into this widened area of the slot allows the maximum collapsing of the parts without the necessity of further force. The slot may, if desired, have the niche, df, at its end further from the hinge to form a catch recess for the reception of the stud, 0,. for more effectually insuring the retention of the parts in their proper supporting ad ustment, although this is not regarded as an es- 8o sential, especially in view of the provision of the thumb-nut, e, on the threaded pro ecting extremity of the stud, which nut may be turned up to exert a binding pressure on the adjacent parts of the brace-arm and the Web,

d of the casting, d. It will be perceived that the casting, d, is,as to a portion of its length,set within a recess, h, in the inner side of the cleat, and the leg has the vertical aperture, j, through it which leads to the up- 0 per end of the leg so that when the leg is folded under and closely to thetop, the casting web, 01 and link-brace maybe accommodated, and thereby constitute no impediment to the compact disposition stated.

Due to the form and arrangement of the parts shown and described, the bracket, when swung to hold the top and leg rigidly at right angles the one to the other, does not obtrude so as to interfere with the comfort of thechild xoo sitting at the table next within the leg.

In the construction of these tables, as at present carried out, they are made with tops of sufficient length to accommodate six children at each side,-four between the legs, and one outside of each 1eg,hence will be apparent the advantage of the capabilities arlsing from the constructions and arrangements set forth.

During the sessions it is common to vary theunstructions with gymnastics, or other exercises, whereupon the tables are dismantled to galn space,and to this the teacher may lay the tables down on their sides and (after loosenlng the thumb-nuts, if they shall have been tightened) swing the legs against the under sides of the tops by starting the link-braces along the slots with her hands, and then kickmg the table-legs to place; or, ordinarily, the pressure of the foot is effectual if the nut shall have been loosened before turning the table on its side, thereby avoiding the necesslty for getting down on the floor.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patout, is-

1. The combination with the table-top and the leg hinged thereto, and having the vertical aperture, j, of the casting secured to the under side of the top having a curved slot, and the brace-arm by one end pivoted to the leg and having at its" other end a stud which engages said slot, substantially as described.

2. In combination, the table-top and the leg hinged to the top and having the brace-arm pivotally connected thereto and provided with a pin or stud, and the said casting of the top having the depending web with the slot therein which slot, as the leg is perpendicular to the top, is slightly eccentric to the pivotal connection between the brace and leg, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination, the table-top and the leg hinged to the top and having the bracearm pivotal] y connected thereto and provided with a pin or stud, and the casting of the top having the depending web with the slot therein, which slot, as the leg is perpendicular to the top, is as to a portion of its length slightly eccentric to the pivotal connection between the brace and leg, and which slot as to its inner portion has the increased width, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination with the table-top with the cleat formed with the recess, h, and the leg hinged to the cleat and having the vertical aperture, j, extending to its upper end, of the casting, cl, screwed to the under side of the top and partially disposed in said recess and having the depending lug, (1 with the curved slot, d, and the curved brace-arm, g, having its one end pivotal] y connected to the leg and provided with the stud which has an engagement in said curved slot, substantially as described.

5. The combination with the table-top with cleat having the recess, h, and the casting, d, with depending lug, (1 which is provided with the curved slot, cl, and which casting is as to a part of its length set within the recess of the cleat, of the leg hinged to the cleat and having the aperture, j, which leads to its upper end and having the casting, f, with the ear pieces, f and the curved brace arm, g, pivoted to said ear-pieces and at its upper end having the stud which extends through said slot and beyond the side of the lug, d and the thumb-nut screw engaging said extended portion of the stud and all substantially as described and shown.

CORNELIUS O. HASTINGS. Witnesses:

WILLIAM W. TAPLEY, MILTON BRADLEY. 

